Question: Is malaria a bloodborne pathogen? Answer: Yes. Malaria is caused by a single-celled parasite of the genus Plasmodium (there are five species which infect humans, being Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae and P. knowlesi), introduced into the human blood stream through the bite of an infected anopheles mosquito. To learn more about how the malaria parasite … [Read more...]
Testing for Dormant Malaria
QUESTION When malaria is dormant in the body can it be detected in a blood test? ANSWER Not directly, no. A normal malaria blood test consists of a thick or thin smear, which is often stained and then looked at under a microscope; with these tests, you would not be able to see any sign of the malaria which is lying dormant in the liver. However, there is another type of blood test, known … [Read more...]
Malaria or Kidney Infection?
QUESTION Two months ago my daughter was in Uganda working and when came back to the States she was hospitalized for 4 days with Malaria symptoms. Her tests came back negative they really didn't act like they knew how to treat this. They kept telling her they didn't know how to diagnosis Malaria. So they treated her for it. She now after 2 months is once again hospitalized with the same … [Read more...]
Recurrence of Malaria
QUESTION If a person treated for malaria after being infected from a malaria endemic country of West Africa and cured then he travel back to his country which does not known for malaria endemic region of the world. Question is: Is there any chance of re-occurrence even he is not being exposed to malaria spreading mosquito for some time may be year? Is it true Malaria parasites stays in liver … [Read more...]
Antimalarial Drugs During pPregnancy
QUESTION What is the safest antimalarial drug to be used by a pregnant woman in her second trimester? ANSWER With regards to treating malaria, intravenous artesunate (or quinine, if artesunate is not available) should be used for the treatment of severe/complicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Signs of severe and/or complicated malaria include impaired consciousness, organ failure, … [Read more...]
Recurrence of Malaria Symptoms
QUESTION If a person suffering from malaria is given the proper treatment and he gets well but he again develops the symptoms of malaria..? These symptoms would arise from liver or blood? Who'll be responsible for the recurrence of the symptoms? ANSWER Malaria can come back in three ways: first of all, the person could have been successfully treated, but then re-infected again by being … [Read more...]
How is Malaria Prevented?
QUESTION What are the methods to prevent malaria? ANSWER Malaria prevention consists of a combination of mosquito avoidance measures and chemoprophylaxis. Although very efficacious, none of the recommended interventions are 100% effective. Mosquito Avoidance Measures Because of the nocturnal feeding habits of Anopheles mosquitoes, malaria transmission occurs primarily between dusk … [Read more...]
Malaria Parasite
QUESTION Which parasite transmits malaria? ANSWER Malaria is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium, which is transmitted via the bite of an infected mosquito. The parasite passes into the blood of the human patient when the mosquito bites, via its saliva. There are five species of Plasmodium which normally infect humans: P. falciparum, P. malariae, P. ovale, P. vivax and P. knowlesi. … [Read more...]
Malaria with Liver and Kidney Problems
QUESTION Can someone please tell me what kind of malaria this is. What part of the body it attacks, e.g., cerebral? Patient presenting with liver and kidney "problems". What could these be? ANSWER I am not sure I fully understand your question, but the type of malaria which is associated with cerebral malaria, and also tends to have the most adverse effects on other organs (such as the … [Read more...]
Classification of Malaria
QUESTION Classification of malaria ANSWER Malaria is caused by a single celled protist of the genus Plasmodium. This genus is part of a Phylum of single-celled protist organisms called Apicomplexa. The Apicomplexans mostly posses an organ called an apicoplast, which is part of an apical structure designed to aid entry into a host cell. The Apicomplexa is split into two Classes, of … [Read more...]